Method of closure manufacture



June 17, 1941. E, 5 095" 2,246,096

METHCD OF CLOSURE MANUFACTURE I Filed Nov. 8. 1939 2 Sheegs-Sheet 1 INVENTOR V Emerson'E. Hogg.

BY M w June 17, 1941- E. E. HOGG (METHOD OF CLOSURE MANUFACTURE Filed NOV. 8, 1939 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Emerson E. H099 ATTORNE Patented June 11, 1941 METHOD or CLOSURE MANUFACTURE,

Emerson E. Hogg, New Kensington, Pa., assignor Aluminum Company of America, l ittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania.v

Application November 8, 1939, Serial No. 303,430 16 Claims. (01. 113-121) Manufacturers have utilized improved machin-- ery and improved materials in attempting to produce the closures demanded by the trade, and at the same time have sought more economical simultaneously with the formation 01'. the reinforcing rib. I v

The conventional initial operation in the fabrication of a sheet metal closure is one of shearforms of reinforced closures than those now known. It is an object of this invention to provide a simple method for producing reinforced metallic closures that in many cases will permit a reduction in thickness of the stock used and that is-adaptable to high speed production without expensive and intricate tool equipment.

In the packaging of many types of liquids or semi-liquids, as, for instance, catchup and chili sauce, it is highly undesirable that the closure skirt be in intimate relation with the bottle finish adjacent the mouth, for although packers make every effort to insure clean filling, that end is not always attained, so that occasionally there is a possibility of discoloration of the over-run contents in contact with the closure skirt, and other results similarly unsightly. These problems are greatly intensified upon reclosing after use, since the pouring lip usually retains a layer of the contents which, though inert with regards to the closure, tends to discolor by reason of contact therewith, and often to solidify to a pointan inwardly disposed reinforcing rib and adjacent thereto an outwardly expanded portion that, upon aifixation of the closure to a container, is spaced from the adjacent finish.

It is a further object to provide an improved method of securing a sealing gasket in a closure ing or blanking a disc from flat sheet stock, which step is followed by a drawing operation to forma cup-like shape or closure shell. Ordinarily, these operations are performed at one station, to perform which many tool assemblies are well known. The closure shell is then worked by subsequent operations into the closure desired, and it is to these subsequent operations that the process of this invention relates.

The aforementioned objects and the process by which they are accomplished will be more clearly understood when considered in the light of the following description of the drawings, 11- lustrating both the related steps of the process and the closures produced thereby, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a closure shell upon the completion of grooving and pleating portionsthereof, and one form of tools by which these operations may be performed;

Fig. 2 shows, in consecutive steps,the insertion of asealing gasket and the collapsing of the shell;

Fig. 3 shows in elevation the closure produced by the latter step shown in Fig. 2;

Fig, 4 showspartly in section and partly in elevation a second embodiment of the closure of this invention;

Fig. 5 shows partly in section and partly in elevation 'theclosure of Fig, 3 applied to a container;

Fig. 6 shows in vertical section a modified form of closure shell in position in the collapsing apparatus prior to the application of collapsing pressure to the shell; and

Fig. 7 shows, partly in elevation and partly in section, the closure produced by collapsing the shell of Fig. 6.

Referring now to Fig. 1, a closure shell I, previously formed into a cup-like shape by any suitable process, is shown. The preferred shell material is aluminum (including its alloys) sheet but other metals may be used. The shell has a shallow outwardly open groove 2 in the wall portion near the closed end, and a circumferential band of tooth-like formations 3. In the preferred form, the formations 3 are open pleats,v

is unimportant. In Fig. 1, suitable tools for simultaneously grooving and pleating the blank, including also means for forming thereon a bead I, often called a wire edge, are shown along with the closure shell. The tools consist of a rotatable mandrel 20, adapted to fit within the shell, having a shoulder 2|, tooth-like projections 22, and a groove 23, a rotatable die member 24 adapted to cooperate with the mandrel 20 and having'a groove 23, recesses 23, and an annular rib 21. When the wall of the closure shell is interposed between the rotating tools, the mandrel shoulder 2i works the shell edge downwardly and into the groove 25, which conflnesit to a suitable shape, such as the wire edge 3; the projections 22 and recesses 23 cooperate to fonn the pleats 3; and the rib 21 presses the shell wall into the groove 23 to form the shallow shell groove 2.

The shell i is now ready to receive a sealing gasket, the cutting and positioning of which forms the first operation shown in Fig. 2. The gasket 5 is cut by the plunger 23 from a sheet of suitable material 23, against the edge of the,

die plate 30, from the mouth of which it is either pushed by the plunger 3i, or falls therefrom into the shell aligned with the die mouth. The plunger 3i follows the gasket 3, and positions it properly within the shell. It is manifest that the shell may be provided with a gasket in other ways, as, for example, by a shuttle feed from a stack of preformed gaskets to a position in alignment with the shell, into which it is then moved by a suitable plunger.

The second operation shown in Fig. 2 may be characterized as a collapsing step, wherein the shell is subjected to compressive force in an endwise direction to shape the side walls of the shell and modify the appearance of the closure. In the illustrated apparatus, the shell i, with the open end up, is positioned within a seat consisting of .an outer member 32, supported by a suitable base and an inner member 33 yieldably secured within the outer member by a pin 33 extending through 5581M; 35 in the member 33. This inner seat member is supported within the outer member by a spring 36, and is free to move downwardly far enough to bring the meeting edges of the seat surfaces of the two members into the same horizontal plane.

To apply working pressure or collapsing pressure in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the shell, a reciprocable plunger 31 is shown which bears upon the open end of the shell. Within a suitable recess in the plunger 31, there is yieldably secured a second and depending plunger 33, by means of a pin 33 extending through a suitable slot 40, which permits telescop ing of the inner plunger within the outer, and

compression of a back-up spring 4| which normally holds the inner plunger fully extended.

Movement of the plunger 31 towards the'shelll seated upon member 33, which in normal position is elevated by the spring 36, carries the plunger 33 into the shell to hold the gasket 3 against the closed end l2. Continued movement of the plunger 31 forces both the member 33 and the shell downwardly until the shell is seated upon seat members 32 and 33 and confined between the seat members and plunger 31, and

the shell. To insure the simultaneous collapse and outward deformation of the shell wall, it has been found desirable to provide a seat for the shell during deformation that confines or bears against the closed end I 2 and a portion of -arc and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shell which is substantially the extent shown in Fig. 2.

It has also been discovered that the result of pressure applied to a shell in the direction of the longitudinal axis thereof or in an endwise direction is entirely unpredictable unless the shell is provided with a circumferential groove or indentation to establish the'zone at which the shell wall will bend or collapse under the applied force. For the purpose of producing a closure of the open rib or shouldered form shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 5, the shell is provided also with a wall portion adjacent to the bending zone capable of being expanded readily. To prepare a shell for the collapsing step, a shallow circumferential groove or indentation 2 has been found to produce sufficient local weakening of the wall as a column that the collapse thereof will be confined to substantially the grooved portion, and a portion with vertical projections such as open pleats terminating adjacent thereto has been found suitable to permit expansion, since the pleats expand readily in response to the radial pressure produced by the collapsing of the grooved portion. Because of the localization of this pressure, the pleats are diflerentially expanded along their lengths. It thus becomes self-evident that the sequence of pleating and grooving steps does not affect the process, and that it is only necessary that both of these operations precede the collapsing step to produce the shouldered closure of Figs. 2, 3, and 5. In connection with the step of inserting the gasket, it should also be evident that the step may be omitted if no gasket is desired, or if the gasket is not to be retained by the reinforcing rib, and that where the gasket is so retained the step logically follows pleating and grooving the shell and precedes collapsing thereof.

It'has been found that various closure forms can be produced by my process. The form shown in Fig. 3 has a shape produced by limiting the downward travel of the collapsing means to approximately the position shown in Fig. 2, so that the pre-grooved wall portion is not fully collapsed. The resulting shape may readily be described as resembling a keystone. This shape may be varied and still retain the keystone appearance, by, for

instance, increasing the distance between the "minimum diameter of the groove 2 and the shell end l2, which will produce a portion of greater height above the pleated portion. Furthermore, the expansion of the pleats can be controlled, to some extent, by both the pleat height and the distance between the center of the groove 2 and the upper ends of the pleats. By extending the stroke of the collapsing means, the pre-grooved wall portion can be completely collapsed to form a tight wall fold l3 above the expanded pleated portion, which is then telescoped within the expanded wall portion as shown in Fig. 4. The shape of the closure is thereby slightly altered without otherwise affecting the closures produced by.the process.

The form of closure shown in Fig. 7 has a shape produced by completely collapsing a shell provided only with a circumferential groove or indentation at the desired point along the length of the shell, thereby establishing the zone at which the shell wall will bend or collapse under pressure applied endwise to the shell. The prepared shell is and will always be so spaced since the closure cannot be used with a neck finish to he enveloped by the closure that has a maximum diameter greater than that of the skirt portion 1. The expanded shown in Fig. 6 in confined position in the collapsing apparatus, which apparatusis the same as that shown in Fig. 2, before collapsing of the shell is effected. As shown, the shell is provided with a shallow outwardly open groove I! which corresponds to the groove 2, that is located near the closed or head end of the shell. Of course, the groove can be formed at any desired point relative to the ends of the shell, thereby to localize the zone at whichbending and radial expansion of the shell wall occurs under collapsing pressure.

Upon continued movement of the plunger 31, the grooved wall portion is completely collapsed to form a tight wall fold or closed crimp l6 which is then forced toward the open end of the shell into telescoping relation with the adjacent wall of the shell, thereby effecting radial expansion of the adjacent wall of the shell to the form shown in Fig. 7. During collapsing of the shell. the head end thereof is supported by the seat members 32 and 33, the support afforded by the member 32 being extended along the shell wall to a point adjacent to the groove i5, whereby telescoping of the fold it will be effected toward the open end of the closure shell. The expanded'wall of the shell thereby forms an annular flared band H on the body of the closure, while the tight wall fold I6 serves to reinforce the same. In the form of closure shown, the sealing gasket is is held within the closure by crimping of the wall fold l6 about the periphery of the gasket.

It will thus be seen that the location of the circumferential groove in the wall of the shell controls the point at which the wall will collapse under the applied compressive pressure, the grooved wall portion at the edges of the groove collapsing or moving toward each other and the lower adjacent shell wall being simultaneously flared outwardly. Thus, collapse of the wall of the closure shell is controlled by providing the wall of the shell with a definite circumferential bending zone or a circumferential zone of columnar weakness, as exemplified by the provision of the groove or indenture 2 inthe wall of the shell.

The closures produced by my process as above described may serve as long skirted vacuum caps or slip caps. If formations for mechanical retention are desired, any shape known can be formed in the skirt portion 1 without entering into or altering the inventive concept of the closure.

For the purpose of further illustration of the closure, the form shown in Fig. 3 is shown in Fig. 5, afiixed by means of screw threads 8 to complementary threads on a bottle 5. The bottle is provided with the usual pouring lip In, against which the sealing gasket 5 is held in compressed relationship, The annular rib 6 projects inwardly towards the lip and forms a continuous integral reinforcing member which also serves to retain the sealing gasket 5. The lower rib side H extends outwardly from the apex of the rib and joins the inwardly and downwardly inclined skirt portion bearing thepleats 3. Adjoining this pleated portion is a cylindrical skirt portion 1 which is provided with screw threads 8. Manifestly, the expanded spaced from the bottle pleated portion is amply finish to prevent seizing,

pleated portion, in addition to spacing the closure from the container finish, provides a projecting bumper surface which protects the remainder of the closure from distortion and is particularly effective in protecting securing conformations, such as the threads I. Since the expanded portion is reinforced against collapse by the rib adjacent thereto, normaleasy removal is additionally assured.

With the intent to include the various changes and modifications in addition to those disclosed and described herein that come within the true concept of this invention, I claim:

1. In a method of producing a reinforced and figurate closure from a cup-like metallic shell, the steps which comprise pressing the shell inwardly intermediate the ends thereof to form a circumferential zone capable of being collapsed under pressure,'and applying pressure to said shell in the direction of the longitudinal axis thereof, whereby the wall portion at said zone is collapsed and the wall adjacent said zone toward the open end of the shell is simultaneously flared outwardly.

2. In a method of producing a reinforced and figurate closure from a cup-like metallic shell, the steps which comprise pressing the shell inwardly intermediate the ends thereof to form a circumferential zone capable of being collapsed under pressure, forming open pleats in said wall adjacent to said zone, and applying pressure to said shell in the direction of the longitudinal axis thereof, whereby the wall portion at said zone is collapsed and the pleated wall portion is simul-'- taneously forced outwardly.

3. In a method of producing a reinforced and figurate closure from a cup-like metallic shell, the steps which comprise, inwardly indenting the wall of the shell, along a completecircumferential line, compressing the shell in an endwise direction, to collapse the wall of the shell along said line of indenture, and confining theshell at one side of said line of indenture during the compressing operation, whereby said wall is collapsed along said line of indenture and the unconfined wall adjacent thereto is expanded outwardly to form an annular flared band girding the closure.

4. In a method of producing a reinforced and figurate closure from a cup-like metallic shell, the steps which comprise pressing the shell inwardly to form a circumferential groove near the closed end of the shell, and applying pressure to said shell in the direction of the longitudinal axis thereof, whereby the wall portions of said groove are collapsed toward each other and the lower adjacent shell wall is simultaneously flared outwardly to a diameter greater than that of the closed end. v

5. In a method of producing a reinforced and flgurate closure from a cup-like metallic shell, the steps comprising pressing the wall of the shell inwardly to form a circumferential groove' near the closed end, forming open pleats adjacent said groove, and applying pressure to said shell in the direction of the longitudinal axis thereof until the grooved portion is deformed and the pleated portion is simultaneously forced outwardly to a diameter greater than that of the closed end.

6. In'a method of producing a reinforced and figurate closure from a cup-like metallic shell, the

steps which comprise pressing the shell wall in- --wardly to form a circumferential groove and simultaneously forming open vertical pleats adjacent to said groove, and applying endwise pressure to said shell to collapse said grooved portion and expand the adjacent pleated portion of the wall of said shell in radial and circumferential directions.

7. In a method of producing a reinforced and flgurate closure from a cup-like metallic shell, the steps which comprise pressing the wall of the shell inwardly to form a circumferential zone of weakness adjacent the closed end of the shell, placing a sealing gasket within the shell against the closed end, and applying pressure to said shell in the direction of the longitudinal axis thereof, whereby the wall of the shell at said circumferential zone is collapsed into retentive engagement with said sealing gasket and the adjacent wall of the shell is flared outwardly.

8. In a method of producing a reinforced and flgurate closure from a cup-like metallic shell, the steps which comprise pressing the wall of the shell inwardly to form an annular groove therein adjacent the closed end of the shell, placing a sealing gasket within said shell against the closed end, and applying pressure to the shell in the direction of the longitudinal axis thereof to collapse said grooved wall portion into a tight wall fold whereby the lower wall portion adjacent said fold is flared outwardly and said gasket is secured against said closed end by peripheral engagement with said fold.

9. In a method of producing a reinforced and figurate closure from a cup-like metallic shell, the steps comprising pressing the wall of the shell inwardly to form a circumferential groove near the closed end, forming open pleats adjacent said groove, placing a sealing gasket within the shell adjacent said groove, placing a sealing gasket within said shell against the closed end, and applying pressure to said shell in the direction of the longitudinal axis thereof to collapse said grooved wall portion into a tight wall fold, whereby the pleated wall portion is flared outwar'ily a distance that decreases downwardly from the closed end of the shell and said fold retentively engages the periphery of said gasket.

11. In a method of producing a reinforced and figurate closure from a cup-like metallic shell, the steps comprising pressing the wall of the shell inwardly to form a circumferential groove therein, forming open vertical pleats terminating at said groove, and applying pressure to said shell in the direction of the longitudinal axi thereof until the grooved portion is deformed'and the pleated portion is simultaneously forced outwardly to form a downwardly and inwardly inclined portion by differential expansion of the pleats along their lengths.

12. In a method of producing a reinforced and figurate closure from a cup-like metallic shell, the steps comprising pressing the wall of the shell inwardly to form a circumferential groove near the closed end, forming open vertical pleats adjacent said groove, applying pressure to said shell in the direction of the longitudinal axis thereof until the grooved portion is partially collapsed and the pleated portion is simultaneously expanded outwardly a distance that decreases downwardly from the closed end.

13. In a method of producing a reinforced and figurate closure from a cup-like metallic shell, the steps comprising pressing the wall of the shell inwardly to form a circumferential groove near the closed end, forming open vertical pleats adjacent said groove, and applying pressure to said shell in the direction of the longitudinal axis thereof until the grooved portion is formed into a closed fold and telescoped within the adjacent pleated portion and said pleated portion simultaneously expanded outwardly a distance that decreases downwardly from the closed. end.

14. In a method of producing a reinforced and flgurate closure from a cup-like metallic shell, the steps comprising pressing the wall of the shell inwardly to form a circumferential groove near the closed end, and applying pressure to said shell in the direction of the longitudinal axis thereof until the grooved portion is formed into a closed fold and telescoped within the smooth skirt portion adjacent said groove and said smooth skirt portion is simultaneously expanded outwardly a distance that decreases downwardly from the closed end.

. 15. In a method of producing a reinforced and figurate closure from a cup-like metallic shell,

the steps comprising pressing the wall of the shell inwardlyto form a circumferential groove near the closed end, forming open vertical pleats adjacent said groove, confining the closed end and a portion of the jointure arc of the closed end and shell wall, and applying pressure to the shell circumferentially of the open end and in the direction of the longitudinal axis until the grooved portion is deformed and the pleated portion adjacent to said deformed grooved portion is simultaneously forced outwardly to a diameter greater than that of the closed end.

16. In a method of producing a reinforced and flgurate closure from a cup-like metallic shell, the steps comprising pressing the wall of the shell inwardly to formva circumferential groove near the closed end, forming open vertical pleats adjacent said groove, confining the closed end and a portion of the joint-ure arc of the closed end and shell wall, and applying presure to the shell circumferentially of the open end and in the direction of the longitudinal axis thereof until the grooved portion is formedinto a closed fold and the pleated portion is simultaneously forced outwardly a distance that decreases towards'the open end of the shell. 1 I

a EMERSON E. HOGG. 

